ABSTRACT
The issue of within-language variation (i.e., dialects) has been and continues to be an emotional one for many Americans. The national furor over Ebonics during the late 1990s simply brought to the surface issues and feelings that have long bubbled and brewed in the nation’s subconscious. The increasing ethnic and linguistic diversity of the USA only adds to the brew. Therefore, before embarking on an examination of language variation, it might be helpful to briefly review the characteristics of language and the relation between oral and written language. These understandings will help us take a more thoughtful look at what are inherent properties of language-variation and change.
